How you guy's doing , I have a 2002 SERK , that needs an shifter shaft seal replaced and since everything was going to be taken apart I thought I order a chrome inner primary, I love the look of the open belt drive on these bike specifically the one the PRIMO makes ( Brute IV Extreme ) , what are the pro's and con's of the belt drive , and do I still need an inner primary cover.Lets keep in mind also that there is nothing wrong with my chain or clutch , nor am I any kind of speed demon, I just like the looks and like to have something different then the rest. I much rather reliability than looks . Thanks for your inputs!

Nice Bike. BDL and Primo are the only open primarys available for your bike, that I am aware of. They come with their own inner primary plate. They use a 2" belt, which is fine for mild builds. The belt won't survive high HP or TQ, according to Boatnuts experience. Also there is a very limited choice, if any choice, of ratios.

Ran an 8mm on a stroked shovel once,ran inclosed primary with holes in Derby.After breaking it one night late with wife on back,and raising a little cain.Replaced the belt once after that realized the way I drive and with a hot rodded motor maybe needed wider belt.Problem was wider belts ruin ground clearance in left turns.

I have one on 06 rkc Love it never had problem. As for handling hp and tq Mines running on 114 inche all bore motor. Best advice I can give is keep it clean. the biggest thing you have to worry about is trash getting into it and messing belt up. I rode to California two year ago fro NC about 6800 miles round trip. I did carry spare belt just in case of problem see as how most HD dealers don't carry 3 inch belts.

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Only the stupid know to much to learn something new

I vote with Miles on this one. Belt drives look cool and wicked. If all you do is putt around town or make short trips...not a problem. Harley tried as hard as they could with Gates to get a belt drive that would work inside a primary cover. If they had succeeded, we'd all be riding one now. They just could not get them to hold up. I ran one on a Softail once and it was really smooth, reduced the vibration, eliminated a bunch of noise and shifted smooth as silk. I am not saying one can't tour with it (wydopn231 did)....just take the spare parts with you like he did. If you are going to run one, go with the open belt. Heat is their worst enemy. Also, go with the inner plate and dump the inner primary. It will look like something fell off if you stick with the stock inner primary. The guys with the Shovels that came factory equipped use to run with the covers off to help the longevity of the belt and they looked like crap. Also, you need to listen to the clutch engagement ....some of them can be pretty noisy, like sandpaper rubbing together.

Whatever you do....open your wallet and go with the good stuff. I had a Primo that was suppose to run inside the stock cover...it did for around 3,000 miles.

I had a Primo enclosed belt drive on my 89 FLHS. I put the outer primary on and used stainless screen on the clutch hub cover and the inspection cover. Negatives were you could actually hear the clutch, and you have to replace the clutch hub. Pros were no fluid to change which equals less maintenance.

I just left the derby and inspection covers of mine. My belt never broke....my clutch hub did. Primo replaced the hub, but I just threw it all in a box and gave it to the guy I sold the bike to later on after I had put the chain drive guts back in. You can pick-up chain drive guts about anywhere on the planet, but not spare belt drive parts.

I have a 3" BDL on my FXR4. At 30k it's real noisy (ding-a-linging bad) and the belt needs replacing as it's getting floppy and there is no adjustment. I can't run mid controls either. It's a good clutch though. No drag and easy shifting. I'd go back to the stock setup except it would cost about $2000. Mainly I miss the mids. A new belt ($100) and new clutch plates would fix the two problems- flop and noise.

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